Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and perceived mental health discrimination in adults in the general population
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BACKGROUND: The experience of discrimination is common in individuals with mental health problems and has been associated with a range of negative outcomes. As yet, however, there has been an absence of research on this phenomenon in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study examined the association between ADHD symptoms and mental health discrimination in the general adult population. METHODS: The analytic sample comprised 7274 individuals aged 18 and above residing in private households in England that were drawn from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 2007. Information on ADHD was obtained with the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) Screener. A single-item question was used to assess mental health discrimination experienced in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of discrimination increased as ADHD symptoms increased but was especially elevated in those with the most severe ADHD symptoms (ASRS score 18-24). In a multivariable logistic regression analysis that was adjusted for a variety of covariates including common mental disorders, ADHD symptoms (ASRS ≥ 14) were associated with almost 3 times higher odds for experiencing mental health discrimination (odds ratio: 2.81, 95% confidence interval: 1.49-5.31). CONCLUSION: ADHD symptoms are associated with higher odds for experiencing mental health discrimination and this association is especially elevated in those with the most severe ADHD symptoms. Interventions to inform the general public about ADHD may be important for reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with this disorder in adults.
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Regional and cultural variations, differing mental health awareness, healthcare access, and social stigma modulate reported prevalence rates of adult ADHD.
“Regional and cultural variations, differing mental health awareness, healthcare access, and social stigma further modulate reported prevalence rates”
From ADHD in Adulthood: Clinical Presentation, Comorbidities, and Treatment Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [22]
The Introduction (page unavailable) gives a general adult ADHD prevalence range and discusses stigma and limited public knowledge, while the Discussion (page unavailable) notes that adult ADHD is underdiagnosed. Neither section says that regional or cultural variation, awareness, healthcare access, or stigma modulates reported ADHD prevalence rates; searches for those prevalence modifiers found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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References 44 · Cited by 11
- Authors
- Stickley, A., Leinsalu, M., Ruchkin, V., Oh, H., Narita, Z., & Koyanagi, A.
- Affiliations
- Södertörn University (SE)
- Uppsala University (SE)
- University of Southern California (US)
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Stickley, Andrew
- Venue
- European Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2019
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 91-96
- ISSN
- 0924-9338 (ISSN-L)
- 1778-3585
- OpenAlex
- W2910387938
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 44
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 0.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- European Regional Development Fund
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Keywords
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD symptoms, mental health discrimination, stigma, adults, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, common mental disorders
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Depressive Disorder, England, Female, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Population Surveillance, Prevalence, Young Adult, Self Report
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